people apply filters –
to pictures of themselves
don’t like what they see
but who else is there to be?

certain words and phrase have stuck with me
like the deep red embarrassment
of who i used to be

i was a social worker once,
and i wore that identity with a sense of pride
and it dumped such strong beliefs –
right inside of me

and a for a second or two –
maybe more –
i was lost in you